Garcia sets Staples girls record in win over Ludlowe

Updated 1:23 pm, Thursday, May 2, 2013

When Faith Garcia is on her game, Staples High coach Bob Byiteck knows that the junior golfer can be quite good.

On Wednesday at Smith Richardson Golf Course in Fairfield, Garcia delivered her finest performance yet for Staples, shooting a 1-over par 37 in the Wreckers' 184-214 defeat of Fairfield Ludlowe.

Byiteck said that the score is a girls school record, breaking the previous mark of 38.

"She putted very well," Byiteck said. "Her game is coming around. ... When it all comes together, there is no better player around. Right now, she is playing that well. She is showing that she is one of the top two or three girls golfers in the state."

Garcia recorded eight pars and just one bogey for Staples, which improved to 8-1.

"I was just thinking that I would focus on stroke by stroke," she said, "and not total score. I was pretty happy about that. I managed each shot."

Garcia, who played on Trinity Catholic's boys team last season before transferring to Staples, said that her previous low at Smith Richardson was a 44, recorded from the boys' regulation tee. Her coach believes she's capable of lowering her score even more this season.

"I definitely can get better each year," she said. "But right now, I'm pretty consistent and I want to stay that way."

Ludlowe's Jennifer Elsaesser notched the match's second-lowest scoring, shooting a 45. Freshman Anelise Brown came in second for Staples, and third overall, with a 46.

"Anelise hits the ball very well right down the middle," Byiteck said. "She gets the ball very close to the green on every hole. ... She will also get that score down because she's a very committed golfer."

For Staples, junior Christie Cantor carded a 50, while senior Erica Stein scored a 51. Kate O'Neill came in second for the Falcons with a 54.